Dirigible airship.



S. J. DE LAN.

DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP. APPLICATION II'LBD MAR a, 1911.

Patented Dec! 5, 1913.

61 Heine/1d a enrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SURVILLE J. DE LAN, OF GLENWOOD SPRINGS, COLORADO.

DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 8, 1911. Serial No. 613,068.

PatentedDec. 5, 1911'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SURVILLE J. LAN, a citizen of the United States, res ding at Glenwood Springs, in the county of Gar to a new and useful dirigible airship, and

the object of the invention is to provide a device of this design in which there is lnvolved novel features.

The invention, in its broadest scope, aims as its primary object to provide an airship of this design having two gas reservoirs spaced apart, with-a housing ofany suitable design and construction suspended between them. This 11 using may be supported with'relation tofthe reservoirs, by any suitable framework, forinstance, as shown in the drawing. However, it is to be remembered that the applicant does, not confine himself to any spe-' cific form of framework or housing, nor does he restrict himself to the exact rela= tion the housing assumes with regard to the reservoirs. The gas may be admitted to the reservoirs by any conventional method,

therefore, no construction of valves or inlets are shown or described.

A further object, which is particularly essential, of the invention is theprovision of gravitating aeroplanes or wings, suitably connected to the lower outer corners of the housing, in such a manner as to move reely,

and to assume substantially vertical posi-- tions withrelation to the housing, as the' craft is ascending. However, when the craft is descending, these aeroplanes or wings ar- 3 range themselves substantially in horizontal planes, or nearly so, thus preventing the craft from making a quick dart down.-

'wardly. When the craft is traveling forwardly in an undulating line, that is, in an up and down direction, these aeroplanes or wings slightly vibrate or oscillate by gravitation, thus maintaining the equilibrium of the craft. These aeroplanes, in practice, may be constructed of any suitableufra'mework of any suitable-material, and. properly covered 'withareas of canvas or the like, which may be supplied with a ooat-inglof light varnish, in order to prevent the wind currents from percolating through the fabric. The aeroplanes or wings may be any suitable shape, but, as shown in the drawing, are illustrated as being slightly bowed'in directions .at right angles, in order to permit the Wind currents to roll or fold thereunder, thus assisting in holding the craft afloat in the air. l

The applicantdoes not confine himself to wings or planes and the lower outer corneis of the housing, for it is clearly apparent that these connections may be any conventional form. However, the applicant has illustrated one form of connection, which embodies ahollow angular plate seouredto the corner of the housing by bolts, and provided with means for limiting the wings or planes in. their movements.

provide propellers or other means for driv- -ing the airship .or craft forwardly, rearwardly, or laterally, nor is it the object of this invention to provide meansfor rotating such propellers, or means for guidingor steering the craft laterally or vertically; therefore, these mechanisms are entirely omitted from this application. In the drawings, however, there is only disclosed one form of the invention, but, in practical fields,

the applicant is entitled, provided the alterations are comprehended by the appended vclaims.

The invention comprises further features forth, shown in the drawings, and claimed.

In the drawings :Figure l is a view in perspective'of a dirigibleairshipor craft, the same being shown as in flight with the aeroplanes or wings shown substantially in horizontal planes. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the craft, showing the planes or wings substantially in horizontal planes, in

roken awa on one'sideofthe craft or airship, in or or to illustrate the connections between the planes'or wings and the housing. Fig. .3 is an enlarged detail sectional view through-one of the connections of the planesor wings and the housing.

Referring to the 'annexed' drawings, 1

any specific form of connection between the It is not the purpose of this invention to I this form may requlre alterations, to which and combinations of parts, hereinafter set full lines, and in substantially vertical 7 planes, in dotted lines, there being parts designates two cigar-shaped} reservoirsor' balloons which may, or may not, be covered and are secured in place upon their lower parts by a suitable netting, made of bamboo or cording, as shown at 2, while the upper portions of the reservoirs or balloons may or may not becovered similar to the lower part, as will be understood from the drawings. However, there are bands 3 encircling the reservoirs, thus constituting means for holding them in place, while there are bands 4 extending longitudinally of the reservoirs at their top portions, which are secured at the end ex tremities thereof, as shown at (3 denotes a suitable housing, which may be of any desired construction. The housing is provided with a lower chamber 6 adapted to contain the machinery used in propelling, steering or guiding the ship or craft, and for transportation purposes. The,

lower part of the housing is provided with an upper chamber 6 of the housing to be open from end to end, as shown between the roof 6 and floor 6, in order to utilize the current of air passing through the chamber to aid in sustaining the craft on the aeroplane principle. Embracing this housing is a framework 7 which may be made of any suitable material or metal, such as aluminum or the like,in the form of tubular rods if metal is used, which may be joined together by the couplings 8. The bands 3 connect to the couplings, as shown at 9.

Embracing the lower outer corners of the housing are angular plates or members 10, which are secured to the housing by any suitable means, as shown at 11. These plates are hollow, as shown at 12, and extending transversely through them are the pivot members 13, on which the hinge members 14: are pivoted. These hinge members 14 are provided with light extension members or arms 15 and 16, which embrace the aeroplanes or wings 17, upon their upper and lower faces. The extremities of these members 15 and 16 embrace the outer portions 18 of the frames 19 of the planes or wings, by bolts or other suitable means 20. be made of any suitable metal, for instance, steel or the like, while the members or arms 15 and 16 are made of some light material, or othermaterial for instance, aluminum or the like, and are connected to the hinge members 14:, as at 21. The frames of the planes or wings are made of any suitable tubular metal or other material, such as aluminun and are rectangular in contour in plan view. bowed in two directions, as shown in the drawings, and stretched over the frames are areas of fabric, such as canvas or the like 22, upon which above-and below, coat ings of light varnish are supplied, as shown at 23, which prevent the air currents from percolating therethrough. The corners of The hinge members may However, these frames are may be acc'omplished. A craft of this character, when ascending, has its aeroplanesor wlngs arranged substantially in vertical planes, but when descending, the planes assume substantially horizontal positions. The positions, however, vary considerably, it depending on the ballast of the craft, for instance, if there is more weight upon one side of the housing than on the other, the positions of the wings or planes vary with relation to one another.

From the foregoing, it will be clearly noted that a novel form of dirigible airship or craft has been devised, and one which has been found to be practicable, in so far as the structure as shown in the drawing is concerned. The gravitating aeroplanes or wings have been found to be a wonderful advancement in this particular art, that is, as applied to the craft, as shown in the drawings.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. In a dirigible airship or craft, a pair of gas reservoirs spaced apart, and a housing having a lower closed chamber suspended between the reservoirs, the lower chamber adapted to contain the machinery used in propelling, steering the craft, and for transportation purposes, the housing having an upper chamber open from end to end, between the roof and floor, in order to utilize the current of air passing through the upper chamber to aid in, sustaining the craft on the aeroplane principle.

2. In a dirigible airship or craft, a housing, a pair of gravitatmg aeroplanes or wings having hinged connections with the lower outer corners of the housing, ada ted to assume substantially vertical positions when the-craft is ascending, and substantially horizontal positions when the craft is descending, said aeroplanes or'wings adapted to be entirely free to vibrate or oscillate when the craft is traveling in an undulated line, said connections including means for limiting the planes or stantially vertical and horizontal positions.

3. In a dirigible airship, a housing, a pair of gravitating aeroplanes or wings connected of the housing,

to the lower outer corners adapted to assume substantially Vertical positions when the ship is ascending, and substantially horizontal positions when the ship is descending, the wmgs adapted to be entirelyfree at one end to vibrate freely by gravitation betweenthe vertical and hori zontal positipns, when the ship is traveling in an undula'ted line.

4-. In combination, a housing provided with a pair of gas bags arranged substantially thereabove, the housing having angular plates embracing the lower outer portions,- the plates having sockets, a pair of gravitating Wings having hinge members hinged in the sockets, the upper and lower, portions of the sockets constituting means for limiting the Wings in substantially horizontal and:

Copies of this patent may bejobtained for vertical positions, the wings adapted to be entirely free to vibrate freely between the horizontal and vertical positions, when the .two subscribing Witnesses.

Witnesses:

EDWARD E; DOROH,

Amos J. DIOKSON.

SURVILLE J. LAN.

five cents each, by addressing; the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

